Black shopkeepers have painted signs on their windows to prevent their businesses being looted

In Context

In 1964 the United States passed the Civil Rights Act, which was intended to herald a new era in race relations. But many states acted quickly to circumvent the law. California blocked the fair housing legislation thus ensuring segregation continued.

It led to a great feeling of injustice and resentment in the inner cities. The riots in Los Angeles lasted six days, left 34 dead and about 1,000 people injured. Nearly 4,000 people were arrested and hundreds of buildings were destroyed.

A commission headed by former CIA Director, John McCone, concluded the riots were the result of many socio-economic problems like unemployment, poor housing and lack of education, but little was done to address the problems.

The California Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights claimed the report's findings were superficial and showed a lack of understanding of the civil rights movement. It also criticised the report's failure to address the issue of police malpractice.

Los Angeles was the scene of another riot in 1992, triggered by the acquittal of four white police officers accused of beating a black motorist, Rodney King.